Friday-Saturday. Back in the 1960s, Wheat Ridge was home to 32 different carnation growers and was known for sending a bouquet of them to the White House once a week. In 1969 the city founded the Wheat Ridge Carnation Festival as a way to highlight its role as the carnation capital, and the festival has only grown since. Now typically attracting 25,000 attendees, the Carnation Fest is a citywide celebration that includes a neighborhood parade, a fair along West 38th Avenue, live music, an art show, chili cook-off, kid's activities, fireworks and — new this year — an expanded beer garden and an exotic auto show. Also for this 45th year: the Zoppe' Italian Family Circus will perform as part of its August run in the city. 4 p.m.-9:45 p.m. Aug. 15-16. Anderson Park, 4355 Field St. Free. thecarnationfestival.com.